Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC wins 5 prestigious awards at Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024

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Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai receiving the award

Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC Team with their awards

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTE), a member of the Hayleys Plantations Sector, was recognised with five prominent accolades at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024 (BCCS Awards) for its outstanding commitment to sustainability.

TTE was awarded Winner of the “Less than 15Bn Turnover Category’’ Award, Winner of Planning & Adoption of Resilient Practices Award, Sector Award – Agriculture, Ten Best Corporate Citizen Award and the Award for Consistent Commitment, Continuous Improvement & Environmental Commitment. 

These prestigious wins reflect the company’s steadfast efforts to integrate sustainability best practices and ensuring both the environment and communities benefit through a well-planned ESG model in place.

Last year, TTE achieved the highest honour at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards by being crowned Sri Lanka’s Overall Best Corporate Citizen 2023. Building on that legacy, TTE has further cemented its position as a leader in sustainability with this year’s accolades.

The BCCS Awards, organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, is widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s premier awards event recognising corporate sustainability.

Commenting on the latest achievement, Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said, "These awards are a testament to our continuous efforts to drive impactful change through sustainability. We have remained true to our commitment and actively engage in environmental stewardship, community support initiatives, and the upliftment of livelihoods in our estate communities. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to these endeavours.”

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC CEO, Senaka Alawattegama said, “We are honoured to receive these accolades, which reflect our collective efforts to lead the charge in sustainability. Over the years, we have implemented a people-centric, community-focused approach that has enabled us to expand our empowerment initiatives. As a team, we firmly believe in making a positive impact on society and remain deeply committed to achieving that goal.”

Talawakelle Tea Estates continues to champion sustainability efforts with the aim creating a better future for people of all social strata. The company is committed to enhance the health and wellbeing of its communities by conducting free medical checkups, awareness campaigns, and providing community meals. In its efforts to provide quality education for the children of its communities, Talawakelle Tea Estates continues to offer free scholarships, conduct free classes and make essential donations for schools. 

Women’s empowerment is a key focus, with dedicated welfare teams addressing issues such as domestic violence and providing training for women’s groups to support livelihood development and personal growth. Specialised health camps and initiatives to protect and uplift children, such as partnerships with the Centre for Child Protection and Save the Children, further demonstrate TTE’s commitment.

TTE’s reforestation initiative, which aims to plant one million trees, has already resulted in 8 hectares being replanted with native species and contributions to an ecosystem restoration project.

This ongoing commitment to sustainability has firmly established Talawakelle Tea Estates as a custodian of environmental and social responsibility.

About Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s premier plantation companies, producing high-quality Ceylon tea and exporting tea and tea-based products globally. A member of the Hayleys Plantations Sector, TTE owns 16 estates spanning 6,491 hectares in Sri Lanka’s high-grown and low-grown regions. The company holds certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 14001:2015. It has received numerous global accolades, including honours at the Commonwealth Business Excellence Awards, Global Sustainability Awards, and Global Performance Excellence Awards 2024.